Giving back

SoVaNow.com / May 28, 2009

Dear Viewpoint:

The annual letter carriers food drive was another effort by the postal service to give something back to and help the community in which we reside. This years food drive was the 16th year in a row that cities, towns, and communities across this great land have participated in. Locally, we have had the pleasure of working to “Stamp Out Hunger” for the last 13 years. We gathered around 300 pounds of nonperishable food the first year and have grown to between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 tons in each of the last six years. We collected approximately 5 1/2 tons of food this year even though the economy is not as prosperous. Handling this amount of food is no small undertaking and requires a lot of help each year.

We would like to thank all of the postmasters, supervisors, clerks, city carriers, rural carriers, truck drivers, church groups, schools, and individuals who worked so hard to get the job done and make this years food drive a very successful attempt to replenish the food pantry shelves at “The Good Samaritan”. Most of all we thank our postal customers, because without your concern, support, and generosity this project would not be possible. Worth Hudson of “The Good Samaritan” was well pleased with the amount of food donations received and called it a huge blessing.

Lastly, but not least, we want to thank Campbell Soup Company, Bill Keane (cartoonist), Comcast, News and Record (Sylvia), The Gazette Virginian (Beth and Sonny) , and WHLF (Nic Long) for their help and loyal support in providing you with reminders, stories, pictures, public service announcements, and news about this worthwhile community project. We express our gratitude to Woodson Hughes for his time and efforts in writing articles for the newspapers. Also, we extend our appreciation to Vandie Saunders for his tireless devotion in transporting the food to “The Good Samaritan” food pantry.

Now this is a long list of individuals and businesses that have helped us out with the food drive, but no list is complete without God, who allows us to share His love and grace with those who may not be as fortunate as we are this year. God bless one and all. Hope to see all of you “Good Samaritans” again next year. Thanks.